The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team fell 31-16 in their OUA regular season finale versus the Carleton Ravens on Saturday (Oct. 24) afternoon in Ottawa.
With both teams looking to earn their first win of the 2026 campaign it was Toronto who found the end zone first. Following a long pass from third-year quarterback Kaleb O'Donoghue to fourth-year receiver Denayden Lee-Daniel to get U of T into the red zone, O'Donoghue then found third-year receiver Jack Kenney on a slant into the end zone for the opening touchdown. Carleton responded before the end of the first quarter to even up the game at 7-7.
Neither team were able to find another score before halftime with a safety in favour of the home side and a rouge for the Blues making it a 9-8 advantage for the Ravens. A key part to the stalemate was the impressive play of the U of T defence, including another timely interception for third-year defensive back Oskar McPhie. McPhie entered the season finale tied for the U SPORTS lead with four interceptions, adding another to make it three straight games with a pick.
Following the halftime break, momentum would shift to the Ravens as they would notch 19 unanswered points to build a 28-8 lead. Undeterred by the scoreboard, U of T would add one more touchdown with O'Donoghue connecting with second-year receiver Dawson Sjoberg for a fourth-quarter score.
O'Donoghue finished the day going 26-for-42 with 265 passing yards and 20 rushing yards on five carries. Lee-Daniel would top the receivers, converting seven catches into 81 yards. In the backfield, second-year running back Zay Marcelline registered 74 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Defensively, second-year defensive back Kai Nagamatsu led the team with six solo tackles and one assisted tackle. Fourth-year linebacker Elia Lini, fourth-year defensive lineman Elijah Trench, and third-year defensive end Ayden Sendecki each recorded a sack. Lini and fellow fourth-year linebacker Ryan Stewart also tallied five tackles apiece.
Â
